Stoker



Nov. 17, 1942.

W. B. WHITSITT STO KER

Filed Aug. 25, 1959 4 Sheets-Sheet l Nov. 17, 1942. w. B. wHl'rslTT S TOKER 4 sheets-sheet 2 Filed Aug. 25, 1939 Nov. 17, 1942. w. B. wHlTslTT S TOKER Filed Aug. 25, 1959 4 Sheets-Sheet' 4 wwf/f @man Patented Nov. 17, 1942 STOKER.

William B. Whitsitt, Baltimore, Md., assignor to The Standard Stoker Company, Incorporated, a corporation of Delaware Application August 25, 1939, Serial No. 291,976

20 Claims.

The stokers in general use on locomotives fire either through the boiler backhead or the iire door, or just inside of the fire door next to the backhead, and more recently from a point just below the brick wall, or brick arch, adjacent the front wall or ue sheet of the furnace, in which case the fuel is fired in the general direction of the fire door.

On sto-kers in general use that fire through the boiler head, or through the fire door, or from a point just inside the fire door, the finer particles of the fuel are drawn over the brick arch through the excessive draft and are wasted along with the unburned gases which are discharged out through the smoke stack.

My invention relates to stokers broadly but more particularly to locomotive stokers, and has for its general object to provide a new and improved stoker which results in more complete burning of the fuel than other stokers now in general use.

The driving engine or motor and conveyor trough located beneath the coal bin are not shown, as various types of both are available for public use and may be adopted with the Stoker mechanism shown in the drawings described later.

Among the objects of my invention are adaptability to locomotive reboxes and other furnaces now in existence with little if any alteration to furnace walls, fire door openings, et cetera.

Fuel is. delivered preferably to a central point in the furnace and evenly distributed from its hottestpoint horizontally over the fire bed. The point of delivery however can be on either side or front of, or back of the central point of the furnace with equal eflieiency as shown in the drawings, from which point the fuel is .distributed toA all points over the grate surfaces and I, therefore, reserve the right to locate the delivery point as desired or found most efcient.

The fuel can be distributed over the entire grate area with a minimum of fluid pressure.

The fuel is delivered from a point nearest the fire bed in or near the central part of the furnace and just above the fire bed to obtain more complete combustion, which is a decided improvement over existing stokers in general use.

Tests have already been made with this Stoker on a locomotive from which great economies have been derived; as much as 20% saving in fuel has been shown as compared to other popular stokers now in use. Also, the smoke and cinder loss have been greatly reduced due to the fuel being the entire grate area and below the brick arch or Iirebrick wall, thus consuming the nner particles of fuel.

The fuel is delivered in a loose state to a height just above the average rebed and is distributed without the fine particles of fuel separating fromv stokers that re through the fire door openings or back wall of the furnace, or just inside of the back wall, or from the front wall of the furnace.

The fuel is delivered to the furnace with a minimum breakage, resulting in less fine particles and through which a higher degree of efficiency is obtained from the fuel along with the reduction in cinder loss from the smokestack.

The ring door is not changed, is unobstructed by my invention and, therefore, the fireman isin no way handicapped by the stoker mechanism in the cab when preparing the fire or using firing tools whenever necessary.

A complete stoker is not shown in the drawings, the engine 'or motor and conveyor conduit below the door of the coal bin have been omitted as various types of each are available and canf be adapted to this stoker.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a vertical longitudinal sectional View of a locomotive rebox with my improved stoker in position, parts being in elevation.

Fig. la is a view of the header and connecting ends of the pipes for supplying steam or other fluid pressure to the distributing means.

Figure 2 is a top plan view-of the rebox and grate arrangement with my improved Stoker in position.

Figure 3 is a detail Vertical sectional View of the ball and telescopic conduit between the locomotive and tender coal conduit on the line 3-3 at the locomotive end.

Figure 4 is an enlarged detail vertical sectional View of the delivery end assembly of the coall conduit.

Figure 5 is a top plan View of the delivery end of the coal conduit firing table and jet nozzle red just above the re bed horizontallyv over in position.

Figure 6 is a horizontal sectional view through the jet nozzle.

Figure 7 is an enlarged detail view of the mounting of the jet nozzle.

Figure 8 is an enlarged detail sectional view of the mounting of the inverted V member.

Figure 9 is a detailed sectional View of the plates 3| and 32.

The tender conveyor is exibly connected with the conduit I. The conduit I has a flexible and telescoping connection with the rear end of the rigid conduit 2 which permits flexibility between the locomotive and tender. A support is located at the rear end of the conduit 2 and is mounted on the locomotive frame or foundation E, and may be secured rigidly, but in some cases I prefer to have this mounting iiexible, in which latter case guideways 28 are provided, in which the flanges 28a of the support 5 are adapted to move as shown in Figure 3.

The rear end of the conduit 2 is provided with` a spherical cover 4a having flanges 4b, which flanges are connected to the flangesI 4c of the spherical portion 4d at the rear end of the conduit 2, said flanges being secured together by means of the bolts 4e, as clearly shown in Figure 3.

A screw conveyor 2!) is mounted in the conduit I and a conveyor screw 2I is mounted in the conduit 2, said conveyors being connected by a flexible joint 23.

A curved or upwardly inclined conduit 3 is supported rigidly bythe bracket 1, mounted on brace 'Ia secured to the frame 6, said conduit extending from the inner end of the conduit 2 below the grate bars 8 and curved upwardly to a point of suicient height above the grate bars to permit the proper distribution of fuel over the grate bars. A conveyor screw 22 has a universal joint 24 with the conveyor screw 2I.

The upper end of the curved conduit 3 is tted with supporting lugs 9 and I3 which support the firing table II and a protecting grated housing or guard I2, thus the protecting housing I2 and ring table II are supported by the curved conduit and spaced above the grates 8, to permit the boiler, grates, et cetera, to expand without interfering with the stoker mechanism below the level of the grate bars, that portion of the stoker being rigidly secured to the locomotive frame or foundation 6 at all times.

As will be seen from the large view in Figure 4, the conduit section 3 is mounted in such lmanner as to induce currents of air upwardly between and around the parts, and this current of air is materially assisted by means of the grated housing or guard I2 whereby the parts are protected against injury due to intense heat, the air passing through the openings in said grates to assist in cooling the parts and aid in combustion.

The distributor jet or nozzle I3 is especially designed to distribute fuel over the grate area from a point just above the opening in the top of the curved conduit 3 which is located substantially in the center thereof.

The under portion of the distributor jet or nozzle is substantially inverted V-shaped as at I4 and I4a, and the legs of the said V-shape portion are provided with cored passages or their equivalent I5, I5a, I5b and |50, which extend below the lower ends of the said legs leading from outside of the curved elbow or conduit 3, said passages extending upwardly and forwardly to a point near the top of the discharge mouth 31 of the conduit 3, in which the jet I3 is located., TheK under faces of the legs of the V-shaped element cooperatively form a deflector which functions to evenly divide the fuel as it is delivered to the firing plate II for distribution over the grate.

As will be seen from Figure 5, the curved conduit 3 is provided in its upper edge with diametrically opposite slots 3Ia and 32a into which the ends of the inverted V-shaped members I4 and Ida are operatively positioned, said ends of members I4 and Ida being provided with lugs 35 secured to lugs 33 on the housing I2 by bolts 35a. The slot above the ends of the inverted members I4', Ma, is closed by the plates 3I and 32.

Referring now to Figure 6 which is a horizontal transverse section of the jet or nozzle I 3, it will be seen that the jet has four separated chambers A, B, C, D. The two end chambers A and C being arcuate while the intermediate chambers B and D are substantially rectangular. The chamber A is connected to the passage I5, the chamber B is connected to the passage l5b, while the chamber C is connected to the passage I5c, and the chamber D is connected to the passage I5a. Each of the chambers A, B, C and D are provided with a series of jet openings, the jets from chamber C being indicated by the arrows 38. the jets from chamber D by the arrows 39, the jets from chamber A by the arrows 4D, and the jets from chamber B by the arrows 4l. In practice pipes I5', I5b, I5c, I5a lead to these respective passages from a header E, suitably positioned on the locomotive, and supplied with steam or other fluid under pressure through a pipe F having a controlling and cut olf valve F. In each pipe I5', i529', I5c, I5a is a valve e whereby the flow of iiuid pressure to the passages may be independently controlled.

The stoker is operated normally with all of the jets in use to distribute fuel to all parts of the grate area. They may be independently controlled, however, should the operator desire to .fire one side of the re box lighter than the opposite side, or some other portion of the re box.

From the above, it will be seen that the feeding of fuel to the fire bed at any or all points of the same is under absolute control of the operator.

In Figure '7 I have illustrated in enlarged scale the detail mounting of the distributor jet I3, while in Figure 8 I have shown in detail enlarged scale the mounting of the inverted V member I4, Illa. Figure 9 is a detail enlarged View of the plates 3i and 32.

The grates 8 are mounted on the supports 42. 43 designates `the ash pan.

The conveyor screws are driven by a suitable flexible drive shaft to the driving engine or motor which are not shown herein, as several types are available to the public.

Referring to the screw conveyor 22, it will be noted that the spiral of this screw greatly decreases in diameter from its bottom end to the top end which facilitates the delivery of fuel. It will be noted that the delivery end of the conveyor 22 and its spiral terminates at its upper end above the grate bars.

The organization including the inverted V arms I4 and Ma and the nozzlev I3 embodies a combined deilector and jet nozzle, the arms I4 and Illa functioning as defle-ctors below the ring table and the distributor jet nozzle positioned at a point above the firing table.

What I claim is:

ll. In combination, alocomotive frame, aine-- box above said frame, a fuel supporting grate in said rebox, a feed conduit extending to a point below the rebox and fuel grate and including a riser section rigidly mounted on the locomotive frame and having its discharge end extending upwardly into the rebox between adjacent fuel grate bars and situated substantially centrally of the iirebox, the said riser section having lu-gs, and a protecting grate or housing and a firing table surrounding said riser section and supported by said lugs, said protecting grate being arranged to overlie said adjacent fuel grate bars and being vertically spaced therefrom, said protecting grate or housing and firing table being supported by the riser section free from the firebox and grate to permit free longitudinal movement between said fuel grate and protecting grate.

2. In combination, a locomotive frame, a firebox above said frame, a fuel supporting grate L in said irebox, a feed conduit extending b-elow the iirebox and fuel grate and including a curved riser section rigidly mounted on the locomotive frame and having its discharge end extending upwardly int-o the rebox between adjacent fuel Il grate bars and situated substantially centrally of the rebox, a protecting grate surrounding the riser section and supported the-reby, a firing table supported by the riser section above the protecting grate and arranged substantially ush with the upper edge of the riser section, said riser section, protecting grate and firing table being free from connection with the rebox and fuel grate to permit free longitudinal movement between the fuel grate and protecting grate, and

a distributor jet head disposed in the upper portion of the riser section and having supporting arms projecting downwardly and outwardly therethrough and attached to the riser section, said distributor jet head having outlets extending around its circumference above the discharge end of the riser conduit and the ring table and fluid pressure passages leading to said jet outlets for discharging fluid pressure to distribute fuel over the entire grate area.

3. In combination, a locomotive frame, a firebox v above said frame, a fuel supporting grate in said rebox, a fuel feed conduit including a riser section mounted rigidly on said frame below the level of the fuel supporting grate and extending I upwardly between adjacent grate bars positioned substantially centrally of the rebox, a protecting grate and a ring table mounted on the riser section, and a distributor jet head disposed in the upper discharge end of the riser section and having fuel distributing means arranged above the upper discharge end of said riser section and also having outwardly and downwardly diverging supporting arms depending into and extending outwardly through the front and back walls of the riser section and secured thereto, said arms being wedge-shaped at their bottom edges to divide the coal evenly over the firing table, and said fuel distributing means being provided with jet outlets for the discharge of fluid presn sure laterally to distribute fuel evenly over the firing table and over the entire grate surface and said arms being cored to form uid supply passages leading to the jet orifices.

4. In combination, a locomotive rebox having a fuel supporting grate therein, a fuel conduit disposed below said re-box and terminating at its forward end in a riser section extending upwardly between adjacent grate bars into the rebox above said grate and situated substantially at I5 stantially at the horizontal center of the upperl end of the riser conduit and having a distributor jet head projecting above the discharge end of said riser conduit, said distributor jet head having jet orifices for discharging fluid pressure to distribute the fuel uniformly over the grate area.

5. In combination, a locomotive rebox having a fuel supporting grate therein, a feed conduit located below the rebox and fuel grate having a curved riser section extending upwardly through the grate substantially centrally of the firebox above the grate level, a protecting grate and a firing table supported by the riser section above the level of the fuel supporting grate, and a distributing means positioned in the riser conduit and including a distributor jet head extending above the level of the firing table, said distributor jet head being provided around its circumference with uid passages for discharge of fluid pressure to distribute the fuel in all directions over the entire grate area.

6. In a locomotive Stoker, the combination with the locomotive frame, iirebox and fuel supporting grate in the rebox, of a fuel conduit extending beneath the fuel grate and having a riser section rigidly supported by the locomotive frame and projecting upwardly through said grate and into the firebox above the level of the grate, said riser section being provided with supporting lugs,

with the lire-box and fuel grate and said protecting grate being spaced from the fuel grate to permit relative longitudinal movement between the protecting grate and the fuel grate.

'7. In a locomotive Stoker, the combination with the locomotive frame, irebox and fuel supporting grate in the rebox, of a fuel conduit extending beneath the fuel grate and having a riser section rigidly supported by the locomotive frame and projecting upwardly through said grate and into the rebox above the level of the grate, a protecting grate and a firing table surrounding the upper portion of the riser section and supported thereby within the rebox above the level of the fuel grate and free from connection with the rebox and fuel grate, and distributing means disposed within said upper portion of the riser section and provided with a distributor jet head located above the level of Ythe firing table and having fluid pressure jets to distribute fuel from the riser section over said firing table to the fuel grate, and said distributing means having branching arms depending from the distributor jet head and extending outward through opposite sides of the riser section and secured thereto, said arms being provided with fluid supply passages leading to the distributor jet head.

8. In a locomotive stoker, the combination withv a locomotive frame and rebox, of a fuel supportcated substantially at the center of the grate and spaced to provide an opening therebetween, a fuel conduit having a delivery end extending beneath the grate and terminating in a riser section projecting upwardly through said opening into the rebox to a point above the level of the fuel grate, said riser section being fixed to and supported rigidly from the locomotive frame and provided with supporting lugs, a protecting grate and a firing table surrounding the upper portion of the riser section above the level of the fuel grate and supported therefrom by said lugs, said rotec'ting grate being arranged to overhang the space between the riser section and spaced grate bars and being free irom connection with the rebox and fuel grate and spaced from the latter to permit relative longitudinal movement between said fuel grate and protecting grate, and distributing means disposed within said riser section and having jet openings arranged to discharge jets of fluid pressure to distribute fuel over the firing table toward all sides of the rebox.

9. In a locomotive Stoker, the combination with locomotive frame and flrebox, of a fuel supporting grate in the rebox including grate bars located substantially at the center of the grate and spaced to provide an opening therebetween, a fuel conduit having a delivery end extending beneath the grate and terminating in a riser section projecting upwardly through said opening into the rebox to a point above the level of the fuel grate, said riser section being xed to and supported rigidly from the locomotive frame and provided with supporting lugs, a protecting grate and a firing table surrounding the upper portion of the riser section above the level of the fuel grate and supported therefrom by said lugs, said protecting grate being arranged to overhang the space between the riser section and spaced grate bars and being free from connection with the rebox and fuel grate and spaced rom the latter to permit relative longitudinal movement between said fuel grate and protecting grate, and a distributing means disposed within said riser section and supported thereby and comprising a distributor jet head having a plurality of iiuid chambers and sets of openings leading therefrom to different areas around the surface of the distributor jet head and branching arms depending from the distributor jet head f' and extending outwardly through the sides of the riser section, said arms being provided with passages for fluid pressure communicating with the respective chambers, and means for controlling the supply of iiuid pressure to said passages.

l0. In a locomotive Stoker, the combination with a locomotive frame and rebox, of a fuel supporting grate in the firebox, a fuel conduit having a delivery end extending beneath the grate and terminating in a riser section projecting upwardly through said opening into the firebox to a point above the level of the fuel grate, said riser section being fixed to and supported igidly from the locomotive frame, a protecting grate and a firing table surrounding the upper portion of the riser section above the level of the fuel grate and supported therefrom, said protecting grate being arranged to overhang the space between the riser section and spaced grate bars and being free from connection with the firebox and fuel grate and spaced from the latter to permit relative lonigtudinal movement between said fuel grate and protecting grate, and distributing means disposed within said riser section and comprising a distributor jet head iii having blast openings arranged to discharge fluid pressure jets to distribute fuel over the entire grate area, and provided with branching arms projecting outwardly and downwardly at opposite sides of the riser section and secured thereto, said arms having iiuid supply passages communicating with the distributor jet-head and beveled reflecting surfaces to divide the fuel evenly over the ring table, and grate area.

1l. In a locomotive Stoker, the combination with the locomotive frame, rebox and a fuel supporting grate in the firebox, of a fuel conduit extending beneath the fuel grate and having a riser section rigidly supported by the locomotive frame and projecting upwardly through said grate and into the rebox above the level of the grate, a protecting grate and a firing table surrounding the upper portion of the riser section and supported thereby within the rebox above the level of the fuel grate and free from connection with the rebox and fuel grate, and distributing means disposed within said upper portion of the riser section and supported thereby and comprising a distributor jet head having a plurality of fiuid pressure chambers and sets of jet holes leading therefrom to different areas about the surfaces of the distributor jet head and branching arms depending from the jet head and extending outwardly and downwardly through the sides of the riser section, said arms being provided with fluid pressure passages communicating with the respective chambers, and means for controlling the supply of fluid pressure to said passages.

l2. lin a locomotive having a boiler with a firebox therein, a grate for said firebox, said firebox comprising a back wall, side walls and a front wail, a stoker for feeding fuel into the rebox comprising, in combination, a discharge conduit extending through the grate of said irebox to a point approximately midway between the front and back walls and said side walls, means for urging fuel through said discharge conduit, and fuel distributing means at the upper end of said discharge conduit for projecting fuel radially over all parts of said grate.

13. In combination with a flrebox having a grate, a stoker fuel discharge conduit extending upwardly through and above the level of said grate into said lreboX to a point approximately centrally disposed with respect to the perimeter of said grate, means disposed in said discharge conduit for conveying fuel therethrough and fuel distributing means at the upper end of said discharge conduit for projecting fuel radially over all parts of said grate.

14. In a locomotive having a boiler with a rebox therein, a grate for said rebox, said firebox comprising a back wall, side walls and a front wall, and an arch extending upwardly and rearwardly from said front wall toward said back wall, said arch terminating short of said back wall to provide an opening along said back wall for the passage of the products of combustion, a Stoker for feeding fuel into the rebox comprising, in combination, a discharge conduit eX- tending through the grate of said rebox to a point beneath said arch and approximately midway between the front and back walls and said side walls, means for urging fuel through said discharge conduit, and fuel distributing means at the upper end of said discharge conduit for projecting fuel radially over -all parts of said grate.

15, In combination with a rebox having a grate, a Stoker fuel discharge conduit extending upwardly through the central portion of said grate and terminating in said firebox above the level of said grate, a screw conveyor in said discharge conduit for conveying fuel therethrough and fuel distributing means at the upper end of said discharge conduit for projecting fuel radially over all parts of said grate.

16. In combination with a rebox having a grate, a stoker fuel discharge conduit extending upwardly through and above the level of said grate into said rebox to a point approximately centrally disposed with respect to the perimeter of said grate, means for urging fuel through said discharge conduit, and fuel distributing means at the upper end of said discharge conduit for projecting fuel radially over all parts of said grate.

17. In combination with a firebox having a fuel supporting grate, a stoker fuel discharge conduit extending upwardly through said fuel supporting grate into the firebox substantially centrally thereof, a protecting grate surrounding said discharge conduit and supported thereby, said protecting grate being arranged to overlie said fuel supporting grate and being vertically spaced therefrom, and fuel distributing means at the upper end of said discharge conduit for projecting fuel over said fuel supporting grate.

18. In combination with a rebox having a fuel supporting grate, a Stoker fuel discharge conduit extending upwardly through said fuel supporting grate into the lrebox substantially centrally thereof, and a distributor jethead in the upper portion of the discharge conduit, said jet head having supporting arms projecting downwardly and outwardly through and attached to said discharge conduit, a portion of said jet head extending above the plane of the upper en-d of said discharge conduit and being provided with radially directed jet orifices for the emission of pressure fluid against the fuel emerging from said discharge conduit and distributing it over the entire grate area.

19. In combination with a rebox having a fuel supporting grate, a stoker fuel discharge conduit extending upwardly through said fuel supporting grate into the rebox substantially centrally thereof, and a distributor jet head in the upper portion of the discharge conduit, said jet head having supporting arms projecting downwardly and outwardly through and attached to said discharge conduit, a portion of said jet head extending above the plane of the upper end of said discharge conduit and being provided with radially directed jet orifices for the emission of pressure fluid against the fuel emerging from said discharge conduit and distributing it over the entire grate area, sai-d supporting arms being cored to form fluid supply passages leading to said jet orifices.

20. In combination with a firebox having a fuel supporting grate, a Stoker fuel discharge conduit extending upwardly through said fuel supporting grate into the firebox substantially centrally thereof, an'd a distributor jet head in the upper portion of the discharge conduit, a portion of said jet head extending above the plane of the upper end of said discharge conduit and being provided with radially directed jet orifices for the emission of pressure fluid against the fuel emerging from said discharge conduit and distributing it over the entire grate area.

WILLIAM B. WHITSITT. 

